Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley has demanded a “big performance” from Rhys
Priestland in the second Test against Australia on Saturday.

Priestland was criticised for a below-par display in his side’s 27-19 defeat by Australia in the first Test but Howley has stuck by the Scarlets fly-half, despite an impressive display by James Hook in the victory against ACT Brumbies on Tuesday.

Howley said Priestland was "aware we need to be more accurate, particularly in our kicking game. It is an element we have been working on”.

While Howley has kept faith with Priestland, he has made four changes for the Test in Melbourne, including the return of former captain Ryan Jones.

Jones starts at No8 for Wales in place of Toby Faletau, who returned home on Wednesday after breaking a bone in a hand in the Test.

Alun Wyn Jones replaces lock Luke Charteris, hooker Matthew Rees comes in for Ken Owens and Ashley Beck will make his first start at centre in place of Scott Williams.

Charteris and Williams, who needed stitches to a mouth wound midway through the second half on Saturday, both drop down to the bench.

George North is expected to make a recovery from the dead leg that forced him off in the first half at the Suncorp Stadium.

Meanwhile Brian O’Driscoll says Ireland are not playing for second best in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday

Declan Kidney has made four changes after the crushing 42-10 defeat in the first Test in Auckland, recalling Andrew Trimble, Kevin McLaughlin, Mike Ross and Gordon D’Arcy.

O’Driscoll insisted Ireland could match the All Blacks. “Every time you pull on a Test jersey, irrespective of the occasion, it is special,” O’Driscoll said. “We are not playing here for second best.”

Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair, who will win his 82nd cap against Fiji on Saturday, has confirmed he has joined French Pro2 club Brive from Edinburgh.

Blair, 31, who will win his 82nd cap against Fiji, is joining a club who were relegated last season but are former winners of the Heineken Cup.

Another player departing Edinburgh is Jim Thompson, who has signed for London Scottish.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been included in the draw for the group stages of next season’s Amlin Challenge Cup despite uncertainty remaining over their participation in the tournament.

The Falcons were awarded a place in the competition after being spared relegation from the Aviva Premiership by the failure of London Welsh to meet the criteria for promotion.

London Welsh have appealed against that decision however, with the hearing set for June 21.

Newcastle were drawn alongside two French sides in Stade Francais and Grenoble and Italian side Cavalieri Prato in Pool Five.

Former winners Gloucester were paired with Premiership rivals London Irish in Pool One with Bordeaux-Begles and Mont-de-Marsan make up the group.

Wasps, the 2003 winners, will face Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne and Mogliano in Pool Three while Worcester were drawn in Pool Two with Perpignan, Spanish debutants Bizkaia Gernika and Italians Rovigo.